is hei dist. save for boating?

[glideraz]

i have inherited the old family boat long story but it has switched hands alot over the past thirty or so years and someone has put alot of auto parts on it and i have been changing back to marine but i am unsure of the distributor. the boat is a 1969 glasspar hull with a chevy based 250 straight 6 according to the engine id #(3776128) it was used from 70-78 model #165. I just want to make sure it is safe to use. Any help or advice would be helpfull thank you

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: is hei dist. save for boating?

you see a HEI distributor on it? I don't understand.

There are some High Energy marine approved distributors, and some not.

SAE J1171 on the unit will usually ID any electrical component as marine.

 

[Bondo]

Re: is hei dist. save for boating?

Ayuh,... HEI Distributer is a very vague term...

Got a Picture, or other source,..??

 

[glideraz]

Re: is hei dist. save for boating?

this particular dist. looks like the standard gm hei produced in the 70's the only number i can find is on the housing and reads 1110717 9e14

 

[bruceb58]

Re: is hei dist. save for boating?

A "dead" (pun intended) give away would be a vacuum advance.

 

[glideraz]

Re: is hei dist. save for boating?

yes it has a vac,advance which was why i started to wonder it also has mec. weights in it i just don'twant it to cause any fires and such i know with other parts it has to be marine like alt and starter fuel pump carb but not sure on this

 

[bruceb58]

Re: is hei dist. save for boating?

Buy a marine distributor.

Besides the safety, you will have a distributor that has a spark advance curve tailored for marine use as well.